City have been under seige from injuries all season
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
15:25, 11 Feb 2026
Charlie Hughes could miss the visit of Chelsea
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Charlie Hughes could miss the visit of Chelsea(Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
Hull City have more injury concerns as they prepare to face Chelsea in the FA Cup on Friday night, with head coach Sergej Jakirovic admitting he must make the best selection decision for his team.
Charlie Hughes and Manchester United loanee Toby Collyer are both doubts for the visit of the Premier League Blues in front of the television cameras.
Hughes has been playing with a groin problem in the past three weeks, and is likely to be rested with a busy schedule to follow in the race for promotion after the visit of the West London outfit.
Collyer, who made his debut in the latter stages of last Saturday’s 3-2 defeat at home to Bristol City, sustained a hamstring injury in training on Wednesday and will be assessed in the next couple of days, but at this stage, is set to miss the chance to make his full Tigers debut.
There is brighter news surrounding Cody Drameh, with the full-back back in training and could be involved after a lengthy spell out with a quad issue.
City boss Sergej Jakirovic knows he must balance the desire for Cup success, and to give a good account of themselves, with seven games in 21 days coming from the visit of QPR next weekend, as the promotion race hits a crucial period.
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"We have seven games in 22 days, starting from QPR, so we have to be smart," Jakirovic told Hull Live. "Who 50/50 is better not to play, and we can use this week to make sure they are healthy and one hundred per cent. Some gave played three games in a week and are only on seventy per cent."
Jakirovic knows his players want to play in such a high-profile game, but says the bigger picture is important given City are firmly in the thick of the promotion race.
"They are aware of problems," he continued. "They know if they will play this game, maybe they will be out for weeks, so I think it's better to skip this game.
"We are struggling in some positions, especially so, but we will see tomorrow (Thursday) because we have one more session, and then I will decide who will be available.
"Charlie (Hughes) has a problem with his groin. He's been playing with it for three weeks, and it may be better that he misses this game as a precaution. He (Cody) will join us tomorrow (Thursday) and be in the squad. I must be careful and decide what is best for the team."
The City boss is also aware that the game presents him with the chance to not only rest key players who have played so much since the last international break, but also give more minutes to his new signings.
That means Paddy McNair, Kieran Dowell, Lewis Koumas and Yu Hirakawa are all expected to play key roles against Liam Rosenior's Blues.
"One hundred per cent, yes," he added. "It's about trying to increase that so that they are together with the team. If it's possible to get some minutes, that will help with becoming familiar with who they are playing. This is our plan."
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